Shoe-arch reinforcer

ABSTRACT

In a preferred embodiment, an inner-shoe-insertable shoe arch support particularly useful for ladder-dwelling painters, plasterers, and the like, on whose shoes and feet there normally during such labors exist abnormal bending pressures on the arches, the support being preferably of steel and shaped peripherally to fit inside of a shoe heel and arch portion, and having in a common plane a heel and intermediate forward portion with spring support-flanges angled downwardly from each of opposite lateral edges of the intermediate portion, and a downwardly angled forward-arch portion, the heel portion providing sufficient area for a heel of a shoe or boot wearer to rest thereon with the body weight as passed downwardly upon the heel to hold the heel portion firmly down in position such that the forward arch portions serve to provide a lifting pressure when a shoe would otherwise bend under such above-noted abnormal bending pressures.

United States Patent 7 i191 Kump [ Oct. 1,1974

[ SHOE-ARCH REINFORCER [76] Inventor: Joseph W. Kump, 623 W. 2nd St., Dixon, 1]]. 61021 22 Filed: June 4,1973

21 Appl. No.: 366,472

[51] Int. (1... ..A4lf5/l4 [58] Field of Search 128/(1118, 586, 591, 614, 128/618, 621, 581

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,251,427 12/1917 Schenk 128/614 1,447,463 3/1923 Cooper 128/621 1,592,692 7/1926 Hackett 128/593 X 1,716,958 6/1929 Hammann 1 i 128/586 X 1,722,029 7/1929 Bancroft 128/621 2,120,055 6/1938 MacDonald 128/608 2,490,469 12/1949 Pittman 128/618 X 2,754,599 7/1956 Watson 128/591 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant ExaminerJ. Yasko [5 7 ABSTRACT In a preferred embodiment, an inner-shoe-insertable shoe arch support particularly useful for ladderdwelling painters, lasterers, and the like, on whose shoes and feet there normally during such labors exist abnormal bending pressures on the arches, the support being preferably of steel and shaped peripherally to lit inside of a shoe heel and arch portion, and having in a common plane a heel and intermediate forward portion with spring support-flanges angled downwardly from each of opposite lateral edges of the intermediate portion, and a downwardly angled forward-arch portion, the heel portion providing sufficient area for a heel of a shoe or boot wearer to rest thereon with the body weight as passed downwardly upon the heel to hold the heel portion firmly down in position such that the forward arch portions serve to provide a lifting pressure when a shoe would otherwise bend under such above-noted abnormal bending pressures.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATEmmum 1:924

FIG.2

fi /0b FIG.3

FIG.4

SHOE-ARCH REINFORCER This invention relates to a reinforcing device advantageous for intermittent strengthening of a shoe arch worn by a laderclimbing artisan such that as house painters, firemen, and the like go about daily routines of their work, their feet are saved from abnormal pressures.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention there has been recognized to exist a need for such a device above-noted, for example each of U.S. Pat. Nos.: 2,138,823; 1,367,884; 2,754,599; 1,1 89,329; and 1,592,692 in one manner or the other relating generally to such problems. For the most part, with reference to these patents as typical of prior art, there are common difficulties and/or disadvantages, namely, for example, the requirement of diverse securing elements for mounting the respective devices onto the outside of the shoe on the bottom face thereof such as over the under surface of the sole and heel and therebetween, and the accompanying danger to the artisan of the possibility of the device shifting or slipping from the shoe or boot thereby causing a fall from the ladder or other high place. The same hazard is occasioned by the device having slippery surfaces as well as such mounted device adding unnatural thickness and/or length to the shoe, making likely a mistaken fatal step by the wearer during his work. On the other hand, it has heretofore been believed that these large and bulky attachments were necessary in order to obtain the needed additional strength for the shoe, to benefit the artisan wearer. In like manner, the reinforcing and bulky shapes believed necessary rendered it unthinkable to insert such an uncomfortable device into the shoe with the wearers foot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention includes the overcoming and/or avoiding of problems, difficulties and/or disadvantages, together with the achieving of new and desirable features and advantages, as compared to the above-noted prior art.

In particular, another object is to obtain a newlyshaped support device offering supportable strength needed while concurrently being adapted for insertion into a shoe or boot.

Another object is to obtain an insert design such that the wearers body weight contributes to the maintaining of a proper positioning of the support and aids in offering support to the arch of the wearer.

Another object is to obtain the preceding objects while maintaining comfort and convenience to the wearer.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the present invention are obtained by the invention as defined herein.

Broadly the invention may be defined as an elongated member having upper and lower substantially flat bases divided along its elongated axis into a rearward heel portion and a central portion forward of the heel portion, each of the heel portion and the central portion having the upper face thereof extending in substantially the same common plane along the elongated axis, and a forward further extension angled slightly downwardly with its upper face in a second plane defining an acute angle up to about 35 and at least about 5 relative to the common plane in order to thereby provide for firm seating on top of the shoe forward arch portion by the forward most portion of the device. The rearward heel portion of the present elongated member is of an area on its upper face and its lower face sufficient for receiving thereon on the upper face at least a major portion of the shoe or boot wearers heel such that the weight of the person will by pressure of the heel on the upper heel portion serve to not only hold the elongated preferably steel plate member in proper place but also serve to pivot the forward downwardly extending portion of the arch device and the portion of the foot resting thereon in an upwardly direction thereby offering true support to that portion of the persons arch, giving enhanced support to the wearers foot arch against bending as when climbing a ladder for example. Further facilitating this pivotable action and central device support of the rearward portion of the wearers foot arch is in a preferred embodiment, extending from each of lateral edges of the intermediate central portion laterally downwardly angled flanges angled at an angle of less than and at least about 10 such that the opposing downwardly angled flanges serve as leaf springs offering both support to the central section and resiliency for downward cushioning of what otherwise would be a rigid support. This downwardly available flexing action serves to avoid undue strain and pressure on the wearer's arch when excessive pressures force the persons foot and arch in a downward direction, while concurrently offering some degree of resistance against such downward flexing thereby avoiding the normal excessive pressures which bring about the tiring of the feet, particularly of painters and artisans plastering or paneling ceilings, doing electrical work at heights, all of which require the mounting of ladders or other structures placing undue bending forces on the arch of the shoe and foot under normal such situations. In a preferred embodiment, the heel portion is shaped to fit the entire or at least substantially most of the heel face of the inner sole of the shoe, which predetermined shape facilitates a maintaining of the elongated member in its proper orientation.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view as viewed from a forward side elevation position, the upper surface of a typical shoe-arch reinforcing device of the present invention in a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, in cross-section.

FIG. 3 illustrates an additional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1, in cross-section.

FIG. 4 illustrates an additional view comparable to that of FIG. 2, except being a side view rather than being a cross-sectional view, the FIG. 4 view showing in phantom a typical shoe or boot in order to place into an understandable perspective the proper relative seating of the arch reinforcing member of the present invention when in use within a shoe or boot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I In greater detail, with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is disclosed a shoe or boot arch support reinforcing device 5 having a heel portion 6, and intermediate arch portion 7, and a forward arch-supporting section 8 angled downwardly at a bend point 9. The adjacent portions 6 and 7 have upper faces 6a and 7a extending in a common plane while the upper face 80 of the forward portion 8 defines an angle 14 relative to the plane of faces 6a and 7a which angle 14 typically ranges from about to 35, preferably from about 10 to degrees, to correspond to the normal angle within the shoe or boot of the wearer, and this portion being bendable mechanically before insertion in order to accomodate differences in shoes and feet of different wearers, but nevertheless the material out of which the entire reinforcing device is made being substantially strong and resistant to disfigurement except for flexing action as for example a steel member in sheet form. The flexing possibilities are thus by virtue of both bend point 9 and the bend points 11a and 11b of the flanges 10a and 10b respectively which are angled downwardly to provide not only central support of the intermediate section 7 but to provide a spring flexing action when excessive weight is placed thereon in order to give at least a minor degree of yield. Forward edge 13c of the portion 8 extends substantially a toe-ward direction and in a preferred embodiment the sides of the section 8 such as 13a and 13b are tapered inwardly from points 13'b and l3a respectively in order to better fit the converging contour of the shoe or boot and this snug fit also serving to facilitate the retaining of the entire reinforcing device in a rearward direction in addition to and in conjunction with the weight of the heel of the wearer standing on portion 6 with his heel, serving also to retain the device in its proper position within the shoe. As is seen in FIG. 2, the flange 10b serves also as a pivot point as well as a support means for the pressing downward on the member 6 such that the face 6' is held firmly against the bottom of the shoe, and the weight of the heel pressing downwardly on the face 6a causes the face 8a to be pivoted somewhat in an upper direction but with the member 8 being also bent at point 9 such that the bottom face of portion 8 is substantially snug against the shoe or boot arch inner upper surface at points 13b and 13a in order to provide for some flexing action at point 9. FIG. 3 illustrates in its cross-sectional view the characteristic angle of the flange members 100 and 10b.

FIG. 4 illustrates in phantom a shoe 15 with its heel l7 and its arch 16 portion showing the positions of the parts described above relative to the structure of a shoe and accordingly of the foot of a wearer of the shoe.

It should be understood that the illustrations above described are not representative of the many possible variations, modifications, and substitution of equivalents as are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, but are merely illustrative of typical and preferred embodiments of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A shoe-arch device comprising in combination: a substantially rigid element having opposite upper and lower substantially flat faces jointly defining therebetween both rearwardly heel portion and forwardly intermediate portion extending substantially lineally in a common continuous plane, and continuous with a forward dimension of the intermediate portion there being angled downwardly in an inclined plane relative to the continuous plane a forward additional portion extending forwardly as toward a forward shoe sole in direction when inserted within a shoe, said intermediate and forward portions jointly defining a forward arch section. each of opposite side edges of the intermediate portion being inwardly recessed toward each other such that the heel portion and the intermediate portion are both non-attachably retainably fitable within a shoe or boot as a removably-insertable inner-shoe reinforcing heel and arch support. and each of the recessed opposite side edges including extending angularly downwardly therefrom a flexible support flange as support, flexible cushion, and pivot-effecting structure for said forward arch section.

2. A shoe-arch device of claim 1, in which each said flange extends angularly at an angle less than relative to the plane in which the heel and intermediate portions extend. 

1. A shoe-arch device comprising in combination: a substantially rigid element having opposite upper and lower substantially flat faces jointly defining therebetween both rearwardly heel portion and forwardly intermediate portion extending substantially lineally in a common continuous plane, and continuous with a forward dimension of the intermediate portion there being angled downwardly in an inclined plane relative to the continuous plane a forward additional portion extending forwardly as toward a forward shoe sole in direction when inserted within a shoe, said intermediate and forward portions jointly defining a forward arch section, each of opposite side edges of the intermediate portion being inwardly recessed toward each other such that the heel portIon and the intermediate portion are both non-attachably retainably fitable within a shoe or boot as a removablyinsertable inner-shoe reinforcing heel and arch support, and each of the recessed opposite side edges including extending angularly downwardly therefrom a flexible support flange as support, flexible cushion, and pivot-effecting structure for said forward arch section.
 2. A shoe-arch device of claim 1, in which each said flange extends angularly at an angle less than 90* relative to the plane in which the heel and intermediate portions extend. 